Knowledge and innovation are essential for maintaining and improving social welfare and economic growth. The competitiveness and productivity of the economic fabric depends, almost exclusively, on the amount of advanced knowledge incorporated by the productive activity and, therefore, on its continuous renewal. Research in the natural, social and human sciences is a source of values and cultural enrichment.
This pact is born in a special situation of social and economic crisis, against which the European Union proposes a Reconstruction Program and Spain firmly bets on science and innovation as a strategic value and pillar of well-being and growth. It is time to make explicit the existing agreement of Spanish civil society on the central role of science and innovation.
We propose a succinct pact that contemplates, only, the basic and evaluable aspects that political action must assume in terms of resources, organization of the system and people. The main purpose is to reasonably increase the public investment needed in both science (research centres, universities and other players in the system) and innovation, in order to achieve the EU average investment in R+D+I. This is a widely agreed minimum objective among all economic, social and political actors, also converging in the distribution of R+D+I investment between the public and private sectors. The European Commission has recently set a target for 2030 for Member States to invest in total, between public and private, 3% of GDP in R+D+I, and for public investment to represent 1.25% of GDP. In 2018, the last consolidated figure, this was 0.52% of GDP in Spain. In addition to increasing resources, we must ensure generational relief and the attraction and retention of talent, as well as guarantee the principle of effective equality between women and men.
This Pact commits to the following points:
- Resources: Funding in line with the country’s priorities. That public financing in R&D&I, excluding financial items, regularly increases so that it reaches 1.25% of GDP in 2030, which will mean reaching 0.75% by 2024. Public policies for the transfer of knowledge and business innovation should be strengthened to the same extent, with special attention to SMEs. En caso de reducción del gasto público, que la financiación en I+D+I no se reduzca en valor absoluto.
- System: Autonomy and coordination of R+D+I funding entities. That the State Research Agency (AEI), the Carlos III Health Institute and the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI) have the necessary resources and autonomy to ensure that their strategic direction and operation are based on scientific and innovative excellence. That the distribution of competences, whatever it may be, guarantees the common strategic direction and optimal coordination between these bodies and with those of the Autonomous Communities.
- People: Incorporation, recovery and consolidation of scientific and innovative talent: To consolidate a stable and predictable public career for research and technical personnel equivalent to those of the most advanced countries. That the researchers count from the beginning with the necessary material and administrative means. Doubling the current public resources for the incorporation and training of R+D+I personnel in companies.
As of June 15, 2021, 86 entities have already signed the Pact for Science and Innovation:
- 4PI NETWORK
- Science Association in the Parliament
- Association of Electronic, Information Technology, Telecommunications and Digital Content Companies (AMETIC)
- Association of Biology Students of Spain (AEBE)
- Association of Women Researchers and Technologists (AMIT)
- Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC)
- Spanish Association of Biocompanies (ASEBIO)
- Spanish Association of Biosimilars (Biosim)
- Spanish Association of Capital, Growth and Investment (ASCRI)
- Spanish Association of Scientific Communication (AECC)
- Spanish Association of Defence, Security, Aeronautics and Space Technology Companies (TEDAE)
- Spanish Association of the Science Industry (INEUSTAR)
- Spanish Association of Orphan Drug Laboratories (AELMHU)
- Spanish Association of Science and Technology Parks (APTE)
- Spanish Start-Up Association
- Spanish Association for the Advancement of Science (AEAC)
- Asociación Española para el Fomento de la Financiación de la I+D+i (AFIDI)
- Spanish Association for Digitalization (DigitalES)
- National Association of Hospital Researchers (ANIH)
- National Business Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (FarmaIndustria)
- Association for Self-Care in Health (ANEFP)
- Stanpa Association
- Biovegen. Technological Platform for Plant Biotechnology
- Chamber of Commerce of Spain
- Confederation Autism Spain
- Confederation of Scientific Societies of Spain (COSCE)
- Spanish Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (CEPYME)
- Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE)
- Conference of Social Councils of Universities (CCS)
- Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE)
- General Council of Official Computer Engineering Colleges (CCII)
- General Council of Official Colleges of Technical Engineering in Informatics (CONCITI)
- National Consortium of Rubber Manufacturers
- Federation of Scientific and Medical Associations of Spain (FACME)
- Federation of Young Researchers (FJI)
- Spanish Federation of Biotechnologists (FEBIOTEC)
- Spanish Federation of Technology Centres (FEDIT)
- Spanish Federation of Health Technology Companies (FENIN)
- Spanish Federation of Rare Diseases (FEDER)
- Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP)
- Promotion of Arts and Design (FAD)
- Forum of Innovative Companies
- 3M Foundation
- AstraZeneca Foundation
- Atresmedia Foundation
- AXA Foundation
- Banking Foundation Savings and Pension Fund of Barcelona "LA CAIXA"
- BBVA Foundation
- COTEC Foundation
- Cre100do Foundation
- Cris Against Cancer Foundation
- CYD Foundation
- Damián Rodríguez Olivares Foundation
- Emilio Barreiros Foundation
- Gadea Foundation
- Globalis Foundation
- R&E Foundation
- Roche Institute Foundation
- Isabel Gemio Foundation
- José Pastor Fuerte Foundation
- Lilly Foundation
- Luzon Foundation
- Merck Health Foundation
- Novagob Foundation
- Nutai Foundation
- Foundation for Research in Ethology and Biodiversity (FIEB)
- Pasqual Maragall Foundation
- Pfizer Foundation
- PONS Foundation
- Rei Jaume I Awards Foundation
- Sandra Ibarra Foundation
- Telefónica Foundation
- Fundación Universidad Empresa
- Valencian Foundation for Advanced Studies
- Areces Foundations
- Institute of Spain – Royal Academies
- Institute of Graduates in Engineering and Technical Engineers of Spain (INGITE)
- Institute of Engineering of Spain
- Multinationals by brand Spain
- Spanish Technology Platform of the Science Industry (INDUCIENCIA)
- PRISMA, association for affective sexual and gender diversity in Science, Technology and Innovation
- Network of Spanish Researchers and Scientists Abroad Associations (RAICEX)
- Spanish Network of Design Associations (READ)
- Red Innpid
- General Union of Workers (UGT)
- Professional Union - General Councils of Professional Associations